Can opener



April 16, 1957 F, s, rs1-ULL 2,788,572

CAN OPENER Filed April 2o, 195e 34 lPla- 1t 36 32 58 Plas \\36/ sz sa 4: 42 ze) PIGA 3 l la ggn i "1| l f' 48 \49 4051 4l ao/ 34 52 54 5S 3 I g x r l 1 www x N z l i INVENTOR. g l 3 1 FRANCIS SSTULL 1 By f i l 1 da/7 United States Patent O CAN OPENER I Francis S. Stull, Logan, Iowa Application April 20, 1956, Serial No. 579,607

3 Claims. (Cl. Sil-6.1)

This invention relates `to improvements in can openers and particularly relates to an improved opener for cans containing liquids.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an opener which can be rapidly used to manually open a considerable number of such cans in quick succession.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an opener which has detachable opening and venting elements that can be separately washed and replaced, as required.

A further important object of this invention is to provide means for ensuring that the opener can be quickly and easily hooked under the bead of a can end initially to a downward movement of the opener into penetration of the can top.

A still further important object of this invention is to provide a can opener for liquid containing cans, which opener can be rapidly and successively used with a minimum of muscular efforts on the part of a user.

The foregoing and ancillary objects are attained by this invention, the preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the attached drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the can opener, showing the same in use for opening a liquid containing can;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the opener;

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing the means for securing the cutter or opening element and associated guide means in place on the handle means;

Figure 4 is a side perspective view of the cutter or opening element per se;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of such cutter or opening element;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the guide means and associated cutter or opening element, and

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the guide means.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above-referred to drawing, it is to be understood that it is merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is herein stated the primary field of utility of the invention, it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

With more particular reference to the accompanying drawing, the opener 10, which is particularly designed for opening liquid containing cans, includes a main body portion 12 which is in the form of a solid rectangular block. The body portion has a bottom side which is provided with a rectangular groove 14 (for a purpose to be described) and has an upper or top portion which is inte ICC grally formed with a handle 16. The handle 16 includes an inner substantially U-shaped section 18 that is rectangular in cross-section and an outer section 20, which extends substantially arcuately in an opposite direction from the outer leg of the inner section. The outer section 20 terminates in an enlarged, spoon-shaped end 22, which is enlarged and so configured to provide maximum, soft support for the palm-heel of an operators hand. The handle is completely free and unattached for movement to open the can while the can is held stationary.

The outer leg of the inner handle section 18, at a point adjacent to the outer section, is formed with an internally threaded transverse bore 24 to detachably receiveand retain a punch element 26. The punch element 26'includes a straight threaded shank 28 which is threaded into the bore 24, and a faired or pointed punching ex tremity or prong 30 which is adapted to penetrate a can top and provide an air relief hole. The prong 30 is rearwardly curved, with respect to the outer section of the handle.

The groove 14 is formed parallel to the handle and is provided to securely locate and position a punching knife 32 on the bottom of the body portion. The knife 32, as shown particularly in Figures 4 and 5, includes a flat body portion 34 which has an end portion 36 that is curved upwardly and terminates in a downwardly directed puncturing member or triangular end portion 38, the apex of which is sharpened and lies in a plane below the liat body portion. At the point of juncture of the at body portion 34 and the end portion 36, a rectangular downwardly and outwardly curved fulcrum member or keeper tongue 40 is punched out of the end portion and is provided to catch under the extending end edge bead 41 of a can end 42 and to provide a fulcrum for the opener.

The body portion 12 is provided with an internally threaded bore 44 and the flat body portion 34 has an opening 46, which is adapted to be aligned with the bore, a screw 48 being provided to pass through the opening 46 and engage in the bore 44 so as to secure the knife 32 in place.

As shown in Figures 1 and 6, a guide clip means 50 is provided for the cutter, as will be described. The guide clip means 50 is formed, as is the cutter or knife 32, from flat stock material and includes a flat upper section 52 and a parallel flat lower section 54, such sections being connected at adjacent ends by a bight portion 56. The upper section 52 is formed with an aperture 58 to receive the screw 48 whereby the guide clip means 5l) is securely attached to the body portion 12 and underlies the knife or cutter 32. The lower section is of greater length than the upper section and terminates in a squared free edge which is centrally formed with a rectangular cut-out 60 within which the curved tongue 40 is adapted to tit.

In use, as shown in Figure l, the opener is positioned above the can top so that the tongue 4t) is hooked under the bead 41 of the can end or top 42. ln so positioning the opener, the lower section 54 of the guide clip means slides on the outer wall of the can to bring the tongue in anchored position under the bead. When the tongue is so anchored (simultaneous with such movement), the end 22 of the handle is depressed by the heel of the palm of a user and the knife 32 and punch element 26 are forced down into and through the top of the can. The knife forms a triangular pouring opening while the punch element forms a small air vent to ensure that a vacuum will not be created and that the liquid contents of the can will iiow evenly from the can.

From the foregoing specification, it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and in Patented Apr. 416,1951

an economical manner, and that its simplicity, accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device, considering what it will accomplish, and that it will nd an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which th invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore a more lengthy description is` regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details and parts such as come Within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

l. An opener for liquid containing cans comprising a handle having a U-shaped inner end including a tirst and a second leg member, an enlarged and substantially flat palm engaging handle extremity curved outwardly from the iirst of the leg members, a body portion terminating the other leg member and having an outer surface provided with a groove paralleling the handle, a cutter element which comprises a flat body member, said body member being positioned within said groove, means securing the body member in the groove, said cutter element further comprising a substantially triangular-shaped cutting end which extends away from the handle and a keeper tongue formed inwardly of said cutting end to engage under the bead of an end of a can, a guide clip means secured to the body portion beneath said body member of the cutter element and having a flat section underlying the body member and terminating in an end which is notched to receive the tongue, said end forming a guide means slidable on the outer wall of a can `to locate the tongue under the bead on the end of a can, and a punch element carried by the first leg member adjacent the palm engaging extremity.

2. An opener as claimed in claim l, wherein said guide clip means includes an inner at section paralleling said rst at section and spaced therefrom and having means, cooperating with the means securing the body member in. the groove, to position the guide clip means in place.

3. An opener as claimed in claim l, wherein said punch element includes a threaded shank and said first leg member has a threaded opening receiving said shank.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

